Polly Butler Cornelius, Soprano

home
biography
recordings
photos
press
contact

 

Press and Reviews

Dr. Polly Butler Cornelius, completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in 2011 at UNC-Greensboro.

A celebrated soprano, she performed in Italy in 2008 and 2010 with Dr. Victoria Fischer Faw, pianist, presenting a recital entitled "Songs by American Composers." The program featured vocal and piano compositions by Stephen Paulus, Amy Beach, Libby Larsen, Scott Joplin, George Gershwin and Carlisle Floyd. After working with an opera conductor in Rome, they presented their recital at the Universitatá per Stranieri (University for Foreigners) in Perugia on June 5. The two artists are on the faculty at Elon University where they teach in the music department.

What reviewers have said ...

"The ensemble also features the exuberant efforts of Stephanie Bissonnette, Polly Butler Cornelius, Lissa deGuzman, Sarah Goldrainer and local favorites Taylor Elizabeth Pietz, April Strelinger and Zoe Vonder Haar."
--Ladue News Review of Fiddler On The Roof, August 2016.

"Two songs in English with cello obbligato, “The Lover’s Appeal’ and ‘A Farewell’ sung with beauty by Polly Cornelius."
--Review of Piatti: Cello Pieces American Record Guide Nov/Dec 2007.

"Soprano Polly Cornelius also had a focused and ethereal instrument, while possessing a simmering inner passion; this was most distinguishable in 'Come Unto Him, All Ye that Labor.' (Handel’s Messiah in War Memorial Auditorium)" 
--Robert Waters of The News and Record.

"Polly Cornelius, soprano, is a singer much admired from here to Greensboro and beyond. She was uniformly excellent as handmaid, angel and in other roles. (Arthur Honeggar’s Le Roi David in the Duke Chapel)"
--John W. Lambert of Classical Voice of North Carolina

"Polly Butler Cornelius is a soprano who can hit the high notes with the best of them, and does from first act to last. She also acts with equal skill the juicy roles of the flustered maid “Adele” and the mysterious grand dame. (Strauss’ Die Fledermaus Greensboro Opera Company)"
--Abe D. Jones, former arts editor of the News & Record

"Polly Butler gave stature to the role of 'Barbarina'"
--Opera News

"Ms. Butler-Cornelius has created a niche for herself by premiering contemporary songs by living composers ... Ms. Butler-Cornelius sang Sonnets from the Portuguese to a text by Robert Browning set in 1989. The four songs demand a a high soprano voice of power and clarity and our singer was up to the task."
--John Campbell, reviewing Virginia Arts Festival's John Duffy Composers Institute Presents a Libby Larsen Song Recital



 This site design, all text, graphics and multimedia ©2008 Polly Butler Cornelius. All Rights Reserved.
Site designed by Clator Butler Web Consulting.
 

s